July to September 2010
I
will proclaim the name of the Lord. O praise the greatness of
our God! He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his
ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and
just is he.
Deuteronomy 32 1-4.
Prayer and Praise
It is right that our prayers
should have an element of praise to our God and it is so good to
be able to quote the wonderful verse above. He is indeed a
faithful God and if we trust Him he will fulfil our deepest
needs and petitions. Please God, help us to pray with sincerity
and humbleness for our needs and those of others in the
expectation that you will hear and answer our prayers. Give us
the understanding and discernment to accept answers to our
prayers even though they may be contrary to our expectations.
In everything by
prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be
made known to God.
Philippians 4:6
Harvest Time.
Soon it will be time to reap
the crops in the fields and gather in the harvest of fruits from
trees and bushes. Thank you Lord for the times of plenty and
for the rich variety of food that we have become used to in the
developed world. Help us to be actively concerned for those in
other parts of the world where drought or pestilence have caused
the harvest to repeatedly fail leading to serious famine.
Instil in us a sense of responsibility towards those who are
less fortunate and in grave danger for their lives.
You care for the land
and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are
filled with water to provide the people with corn, for so you
have ordained it. You drench its furrows and level its ridges;
you soften it with showers and bless its crops. You crown the
year with your bounty.
Psalm 65:9-11.
Army at War
We remember at this time all
those in our armed forces, particularly those fighting to bring
stable government in Afghanistan. We pray especially for the
families of those who mourn their loved ones lost in the heat of
battle. Our thoughts and prayers go also towards those many
soldiers who have been wounded and who have lost limbs. We pray
that your love will surround them and their families and give
them the strength to endure their ordeal. We pray also for the
skills of the surgeons and their teams who are working so hard
to give these wounded soldiers back a quality of life.
The Lord comforts his
people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.
Isaiah 49:13
A New Government
We pray Lord that you will
give our new leaders the wisdom to govern with justice and
fairness. May they be aware of the consequences of their
decisions so that the disadvantaged are not put under greater
pressure.
Justice, and only
justice, you shall follow, that you may live
and inherit the land
which the LORD your God gives you.
Deuteronomy 16:20
Unemployed
One of the probable
consequences of a contraction of the economy will be an increase
in unemployment and we pray that you will be very close to all
those who are actively seeking employment. Make them aware of
your presence and of your concern for their predicament. Help
them to remain focussed, confident and not depressed or
disheartened.
For I know the plans I
have for you, says the LORD, plans for
welfare and not for
evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29: 11
Cancer and
life-threatening illnesses
Lord, we know of many who
are suffering serious illness at this time. We pray that you
will be very near to them. Surround them with your love and
give them the strength to overcome.
But now thus says the
LORD, he who created you, he who formed you, "Fear not, for I
have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters I will be with you; and through
the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through
fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume
you.
For I am the LORD your
God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Isaiah 43:1-5
A
prayer for communal care
O Lord
who you yourself prayed that we might all be one, we pray now
that we might each care for one another with love so that we
might be all one together in the body of Christ. Take away all
dissention, backbiting, jealousy, and other barriers to harmony
and set our sights on a closer union with you. Help us to love
each other as you love us.
May the God of
steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in such
harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,
Romans 15:5
A personal prayer
Lord, open my life to
your presence.
Come fill me with your
peace,
Fill my days with your
glory,
Fill my heart with your
love,
That my life may overflow
with your goodness
And bring forth the
fruits of love, peace and joy.
EMC is a
Worshipping Church where prayer is considered vital to our ethos and indeed to God's word.